Propelling apparatus for vessels



(No Model.) -2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

'L McMURPbAY. PROPBLLING APPARATUS FOR VESSELS. No. 391,481. P ted OG'L. 23, 1888.

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LOUIS MOMURRAY, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

PROPELLING APPARATUS FOR VESSELS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 391,481, dated October 23, 1888.

Application filed May 3, 1887. Serial No. 236,919.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LOUIS MGMURRAY, of the city of Baltimore and State of Maryland, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Apparatus for Propelling Steamboats, of which the following is a full description.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a longitudinal section of a boat, showing the boiler and propelling apparatus; Fig. 2, a front elevation showing sprocket-wheels and endless chain,the open passageway for the paddles beneath the boat, and grating to intercept dbris or other matter; Fig. 3,a crosssection of the boat, showingsprocket-wheel which operates the endless chain which carries the paddles, the open passageway beneath the boat,and paddle therein; Fig. 4, a perspective view of paddle, part of endless chain to which paddle is attached, block of wood inserted between the wings of the paddle, and guiding-bars. Fig. 5 isa sectional diagram illustrating two open passageways beneath the boat with double sets of paddles.

Let A represent the hull of a boat out out below at B to form a passage-way running from stem to stern. increased in depth by securing thereto the projections b Upon these projections are secured the guide-pieces b the object of which is to guide and sustain projections from the paddle-chain to steady the paddles as they move through the passage-way.

A drivingengine is erected upon any suitable part of the boat, which is connected by appropriate mechanism with the propelling devices. Upon suitable supports and bearings is placed the shaft 0, which runs across the boat and is provided with the sprocket-wheels 0', located at suitable places on the shaft. A cog-wheel upon the driving-shaft of the engine meshes with one on the shaft 0 and imparts revolution to that shaft.

Erected upon the boat fore and aft of the engine is the frame D, and upon this. frame-work are placed the brackets or supports (1'. Secured to these supports are the bearings which sustain the shaftsE E. These shafts are provided with sprocket=wheels 6, arranged in line with the sprocket-wheels on the shaft 0, so as to receive the chain which passes around these wheels. These chains are marked in the drawlhis passage-way may be (No model.)

ings c 0 Arranged somewhere about midway of the shafts E are other sprocket-whee1s,e*,designed to carry the bucket or paddle chain F, and upon the lower'part of the frame-work B other shafts are erected in suitable bearings,

which carry similar sprocketwheels, 6 In' cases where two sets of paddles are used, as shown in Fig. 5, those wheels are not placed centrally upon the shafts, but are duplicated and arranged in line to suit the open passageways beneath the boat. It will be seen by this arrangement that an open box is formed in the shape of a parallelogram, leaving ample space for deck-room, the under side of which is the open passageway beneath the boat. By this arrangement it will be seen that when the engine is started the paddle passing through the passage-way will propel the boat in either direction, and as the paddles beneath the water are guarded on both sides there is little or no agitation of the water sidewise, and in cases where boats are propelled in narrow channels the washing of the banks from this cause would be very little. Such construction of boat also displaces less water than those which are solid to the keel. Thispassage-Way may be protected, if desired, from. obstruction of ice or rubbish by the grating G, placed in front or at both ends.

The buckets or paddles Hare attached to the chain by rivets, or in any suitable manner, as shown in Fig. 4, and are provided with the cross-bars h h, secured thereto in a suitable manner and projecting beyond the sides of the buckets, as shownin Fig. 4. The ends ofthese bars enter the guideways b Figs. 3 and 5, and steady the buckets in their course under the boat. The buckets may be strengthened by the insertion between the sides of a solid block of wood or other material, as shown at in, Fig. 4, and these blocks may be secured therein by the bolts h.

Having described my invention, what Iclaim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. In a steamboat provided with a propel ling device consisting of an endless carrier to which is secured a series of buckets, the buckets formed of a back piece for securing it to the carrier, and two side pieces or wings proj ecting therefrom at right angles, and having inserted between said wings a block of wood or other suitable material, substantially as set right angles, and having inserted between said forth. I wings a block of wood or other suitable ma- [0 2. Asteamboathaving its hull cut out below terial, substantially as set forth.

to form a longitudinal passage-way beneath T T 5 the boat, in combination with an endless car- LOU IS MOMURBA1' rier provided with buckets formed of a back \Vitnesses: piece for securing it to the carrier, and two JERVIs SPENCER, side pieces or wings projecting therefrom at EDGAR G. MILLER, Jr. 

